Valve assemblies for a diaphragm pump

A valve plate of a diaphragm pump, said valve plate comprising:

• a first side;
• a second side;
• an inlet opening arranged on the first side and assigned to a first outlet channel;
• an inlet opening arranged on the first side and assigned to a second outlet channel;
• an outlet opening arranged on the second side and assigned to the first outlet channel;
• an outlet opening arranged on the second side and assigned to the second outlet channel;
• an inlet channel extending through the valve plate and comprising a first part and a second part adjoining the first part, wherein the second part has an outlet opening arranged on the first side of the valve plate, and wherein the first part extends at an angle to the second part and the first part has an inlet opening on the second side of the valve plate;
• wherein the first outlet channel extends through the valve plate and leads from the inlet opening on the first side assigned to the first outlet channel, to the outlet opening on the second side assigned to the first outlet channel;
• wherein the second outlet channel extends through the valve plate and leads from the inlet opening arranged on the first side assigned to the second outlet channel, to the outlet opening on the second side assigned to the second outlet channel;
• wherein the outlet opening of the first outlet channel is adapted to cooperate with an outlet valve body for closing the first channel outlet opening in a closed position and opening the first channel outlet opening in an open position;
• and
• wherein:
• the first outlet channel runs along a longitudinal axis;
• the second outlet channel runs along a longitudinal axis;
• the second part of the inlet channel runs along a longitudinal axis at least for part of its extension;
• and
• an angle between the longitudinal axis of the first outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the second part of the inlet channel is less than 90°.

A diaphragm pump comprising:

• a valve assembly formed in a valve plate having a first side and a second side, the valve assembly comprising:
• a first outlet channel extending through the valve plate from an inlet opening arranged on the first side and assigned to the first outlet channel, to an outlet opening arranged on the second side and assigned to the first outlet channel;
• a second outlet channel extending through the valve plate from an inlet opening arranged on the first side and assigned to the second outlet channel, to an outlet opening arranged on the second side and assigned to the second outlet channel;
• an inlet channel extending through the valve plate, the inlet channel comprising a first part and a second part adjoining the first part, wherein the second part has an outlet opening arranged on the first side of the valve plate, and wherein the first part extends at an angle to the second part and the first part has an inlet opening on the second side of the valve plate;
• an inlet valve body at the outlet opening of the second part of the inlet channel, which closes the outlet opening in a closed position and opens the outlet opening in an open position;
• an outlet valve body on the outlet opening of the first outlet channel, which closes the outlet opening in a closed position and opens the outlet opening in an open position;
• and
• wherein:
• the first outlet channel runs along a longitudinal axis;
• the second outlet channel runs along a longitudinal axis;
• the second part of the inlet channel runs along a longitudinal axis at least for part of its extension;
• and
• an angle between the longitudinal axis of the first outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the second outlet channel is less than 90°;
• or
• an angle between the longitudinal axis of the first outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the second part of the inlet channel is less than 90°;
• or
• an angle between the longitudinal axis of the second outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the second part of the inlet channel is less than 90°.